Conductor and ground wire support



Oct. 3, 1933. I E. HE NDEE 1,928,622

CONDUCTOR AND GROUND WIRE SUPPORT Filed NOV. 5, 192.7

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 3, 1933. v HENDEE 1,928,622

CONDUCTOR AND GROUND 'WIRE SUPPORT Filed Nov. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Jami. flz /MZ F amwgm ad/alg Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CONDUCTOR AND GROUND WIRE SUPPORT ware Application November 5,1927. Serial No. 231,292

'3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inconductor and ground wire supports, and has as an object the provisionof an improved device wherein longitudinal movement of the conductor isaccommodated without disrupting or in any wise interfering with thesupport.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedsupport of the character described which permits the connection of aconductor therewith without necessitating dismantling of the support andwithout requiring the cutting of the conductor.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of animproved support of the character described having a .high conductivityconnection between the conductor and the ground wire running down thepole.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope'of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examplesof the physical 39 embodiment of my invention constructed according tothe best modes I have so far devised for the practical application ofthe principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of an improved conductor support or clampof the flexible type embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section,taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2-2;

. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the conductor support; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified clamp embodyingthis invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5designates a pole or other support, shown in the present instance as ofmetal construction, adapted to have a U-bolt 6, having a loop '7 in itslower outer end portion, secured thereto by clamping nuts 8 engagingopposite sides of the support. A link 9 is engaged in the loop or recessandpiv- ,otally supports a conductor clamp device 10.

The clamp device consists of a lower member 11 and an upper member 12,the lower member being of substantially approximately U-shape with theends or lips 13 of its trough or channel jacent ears 15 and 16 force thelower longitudinal edge portion 18 of the top member against theconductor to secure it within the channel 19 of the member 11, the edgeof the upper member engageable with the conductor being grooved, asillustrated in Figure 2, to insure a firm clamping action.

The inclination of the bores in the lugs 15 and 16, as illustrated inFigure 2, insures the movement of the edge 18 of the upper member intothe channel or trough 19 of the lower member as the bolts 1'7 aretightened. This construction, as will be evident, permits a universalmovement on the part of the conductor to thus eliminate itscrystallization by movement of the conductor at the point of entrancebetween the clamps and allows longitudinal movement of the conductorwithin a limited range.

The clamp proper is suspended from the link 9 by a hook 20 formed on theupper member between its lugs 16 and which engages in the link, as bestillustrated in Figure 2, this arrangement causing the clamp to spread ofits own accord as the bolts 17 are loosened to facilitate the insertionor removal of the conductor as will be evident. Disengagement of thehook from the link 9 is prevented after the bolts 17 have been drawntight, by the restriction of the space between the outer portion of thehook 20 and the medial portion 11 of the lower clamping member, seeFigure 2.

A ground conductor 21 may be connected with the main conductor 14 by alead 22 secured in electrical engagement with the clamp by one of thebolts 1'7 and with a terminal 23 by one of the clamping nuts 8 betweenwhich and the support 5 the terminal is secured, the ground wire bei ngelectrically connected with the terminal. In that form of my inventionillustrated in Figure 4, a rigid type of support is illustrated in whicha lug or ear 24 is formed on one of the clamp members to provide meansfor securing the support to the pole 5 by means of a bolt 25, the groundwire 21 being connected thereto by a terminal similar to terminal 23confined between the inner surfaces of the pole 5 and the nut threadedon the bolt 25.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich an invention of the character described pertains, that I haveprovided an improved conductor and ground wire support which willfacilitate the mounting of a conductor and which will accommodate themovements of the conductor due to the contraction and expansion and"which will insure the highest possible conductivity between theconductor and ground wire.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a support, a freelymovable supporting member carried thereby, a clamp, means connecting theclamp with the freely movable supporting member, a conductor wiresecured in the clamp, a ground wire engageable with said support, and aflexible conductor electrically connectigg the conductor wire with thesupport.

2. device of the character described, comprising a support an elongatedchannel member adapted to receive a conductor wire in said channel, aclamping member carried by said support, means for drawing the clampingmember toward the channelled member to impinge the conductor wiretherebetween, a ground wire clamped under said support, and flexiblemeans electrically connecting the conductor wire with said support.

3. A device of the character described comprising a support, a memberhaving an elongated channel of substantially uniform cross section inwhich a conductor wire is adapted to be supported, a second memberhaving an elongated conductor engaging edge portion, clamping boltsconnecting the members and disposed diagonally with respect to thevertical axis of the members to draw the second mentioned memberinwardly and downwardly into the channel of the first mentioned memberto securely clamp the conductor between the members, a support engagingmeans carried by one of said members, and means carried by the othersaid member cooperating with said support engaging means to preventdisengagement of said support engaging bers become separated by gravityupon loosening of the clamping means to facilitate insertion and removalof a conductor from the channel, and means on said first mentionedmember cooperating with said support engaging means to preventdisengagement of the support therefrom.

5. A device of the character described, com-; prising an upper and alower clamping mem ber, the lower clamping member having an elongatedunitary conductor receiving channel of substantially uniform crosssection and the upper clamping member having a portion adapted to enterthe channel to clamp a conductor received therein, clamping means fordrawing the members toward each other to effect a clamping action, asupport, and means carried by the upper clamping member and engageablewith the support, means on said lower clamping member cooperating withsaid clamping means to prevent disengagement of the support therefrom,whereby the clamping members are automatically separable by looseningthe clamping means and whereby a conductor may be engaged and disengagedfrom the channel without removing the clamping members from theirsupport. 100,

6. A device of the character described comprising an upper and a lowerclamping member, the lower clamping member having an elongated wirereceiving channel and the upper clamping member having a portion movableinwardly and 135 downwardly into the channel to clamp a wire receivedtherein, means for drawing the clamping members toward each other toeffect a clamping action, a support, a hook carried by the upperclamping member and engageable with the support, and means carried bythe lower clamping member for retaining the hook over the support whenthe clamping members are in cooperative clamping relation.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a member having anelongated unbroken channel-like groove adapted to receive a conductorwire to be supported, a second member having a portion movable inwardlyand downwardly into said groove for engagement with the 0 wire thereinthroughout the length of the groove, clamping means for drawingthe wireengaging portion of said second mentioned member inwardly and downwardlyinto said grooved member to clamp the wire between the members, mountingmeans, a hook carried by one of the mehibers and engageable with themounting means to support the device, and means for retaining the throatof said hook over said mounting means while drawing the members intoclamping relation.

LEM E. HENDEE.

